Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Not to be touched, Good, Useful and Bad Immigrants

As Immigration and Migrant workers were a major factor in the Leave vote last May it is interesting to note that probably migrant workers who are probably poorest paid and face the worst working conditions will be allowed to continue to come to the UK

The environment secretary says she is "absolutely committed" to ensuring that British farmers have access to migrant workers after Brexit.

Mrs Leadsom also said that leaving the EU will allow the government to slash "ridiculous" farming red tape.

Around 60,000 seasonal workers come to the UK each summer, mainly from eastern Europe.

Many crop growers depend on these labourers to plant, pick and pack a variety of fruit and vegetables. Mrs Leadsom acknowledged that this was a key issue and was worrying farmers across the UK.

"I've heard this loud and clear around the country, whether in Herefordshire, Sussex, or Northamptonshire, and I want to pay tribute to the many workers from Europe who contribute so much to our farming industry and rural communities," she told the Oxford Farming Conference."Access to labour is very much an important part of our current discussions - and we're committed to working with you to make sure you have the right people with the right skills."

I don't know what the "right skills " needed for the sought of workers needed for agricultural work but I suspect Mrs Leadsom's opinion is that it is to accept conditions most UK workers would find appalling.

Meanwhile Labour MP Stephen Kinnock seems to be also arguing a “progressive, fair and managed” migration system would be in line with Labour values and address the concerns of millions of voters. which is code for we must appear to be seen as being opposed to Free Movement

Writing for the Observer, the Labour MPs Stephen Kinnock and Emma Reynolds insist that the “mixed messages” from Labour over immigration are proving “deeply corrosive” of voters’ trust. They insist that it is time to unite behind a credible approach that recognises the strength of feeling in the country about rising immigrant numbers, while protecting UK and European workers and the economy.

Announcing their blueprint for change – with support from senior figures, including the party’s former policy chief and MP for Dagenham, Jon Cruddas, and former shadow cabinet members Rachel Reeves and Caroline Flint – they say Labour should press Theresa May to put a two-tier system of controls at the heart of Brexit negotiations.

Tier one would include highly skilled individuals such as doctors, teachers and engineers, who would be admitted to take on specific jobs. EU students with a place at British universities would also be included in this tier.

So its the "Good Immigrants" argument for Tier one

As for Tier two would be made up of low-skilled and semi-skilled EU workers, whose numbers would be limited by sector-based quotas, negotiated between government, industry and trade unions. These sectors would include agriculture, food processing, retail, construction and hospitality.

So again the poor paid often exploited workers that Mrs Leadsom was refering to.

I wonder what Tier Stephen Kinnock placed himself in when he joined the World Economic Forum as director, head of Europe and Central Asia, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

In June 2010, the Danish tabloid BT accused Kinnock of tax evasion.[ At that time he was paying tax in Switzerland where his workplace was situated, and therefore had his main residence there, although his wife's the then Danish Prime Minister political website states that "The family lives in Østerbro in Copenhagen". The couple had previously stated to the media that Kinnock would spend his weekends in Denmark, sometimes including Thursday, and that he regarded his home and base as being exclusively with his family in Copenhagen. According to the tabloid, he would possibly exceed 183 days a year in Denmark, meaning he would be fully taxable there

So Mr Kinnock was for a period at least was working in Geneva and living in Denmark whilst being a UK citizen.

So I wonder if he could tell us what "Tier" someone from Poland say working in the financial sector in London but claiming to be living in France would be in?

Indeed when it comes to Immigration there will be no limit of Non Uk Citizens working in the financial centre in London.